On Their Toes: A Day in the Life of a Student Dancer

The house is quiet. The sky is still black. Before thinking about breakfast or homework, she begins stretching her sore muscles; they never seem to fully recuperate. Being a student is a full-time job. Being a dancer, however, is another one, and somehow student dancers manage both.

By the time the first school bell rings, Layla has already been awake for hours. Her dance bag sits stuffed with leotards, tights, extra socks and well-worn pointe shoes right next to her binders and textbooks. Layla says she sometimes feels tired even before school starts, but dance teaches you to push through and stay focused.

Sitting in class can be harder than it sounds after late-night rehearsals that can run well into the evening. Staying alert during lectures takes effort, as muscles ache from the night before and there is always homework waiting after class. Still, Layla says dance has helped her build discipline. “You learn time management really fast,” Layla says. “There’s no choice...you have to get everything done.”

When the final bell rings at the end of the school day, most students head home to relax. For Layla, however, the day is only halfway over. There is often a quick snack in the car and a fast change of clothes before practice. Some dancers even do homework during short breaks or on the ride to the studio. Layla explains that she feels like she is always rushing somewhere. “School mode turns into dance mode in like five minutes.”

That transition can be stressful, but it is also exciting. The studio is where school worries fade into counts of eight and the sound of music bouncing off mirrored walls.

Dance practice can last anywhere from two to four hours or more during performance season. Warmups and stretching always come first, followed by technique drills and choreography. It is physically demanding and grueling on the body.

Despite the long hours, it is Layla’s favorite part of the day, surrounded by her teammates and closest friends. Even once practice has ended, there is still homework, projects and studying to complete. Balancing school and dance requires sacrifice—less free time, fewer chances to hang out—but many student dancers say the benefits outweigh the challenges.